Quick releasable ship clamp



July 8, 1952 w. A. MEIGHAN QUICK RELEASABLE SHIP CLAMP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 16 1951 July 8, 1952 w. A. MEIGHAN QUICK RELEASABLE SHIP CLAMP 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed May 16, 1951 INVENTOR. W1 Z 71' am H: when Hzfy.

Patented July 8,

, .,;2,eo2,s90

Quick RELEASABLE SHIP oLAMr 1 William A.v Meighan, Oswego, Oreg. Application May 16, 1951, Serial No. 22 ,640 '7 Claims. (Cl. 294 106) My invention relates to a .s'li ip clamp whichis adapted to grip the marginal edge of the web of a ship hull rib, so that cables'or straps may be secured thereto and" stretchedacross a ship;

hold or attached to pieces of cargo to prevent the shifting thereof. J

One of the principal objects or my invention is to provide a two-piece ship clamp which may quickly be arranged in engagement with a bulbous, web-type; ship hullrib, and when it isto be released, this mayfeasily be done byshifting a keeper pin, which permits the jaws of the clamp to be relaxed in their grip upon the rib and separated to permit detachment. therefrom.

My invention relates to the same. general subject matter as the copendin application for patent entitled Ship Clamp,,in,.which"I am one of joint inventors withTirey I Hume, said application bearing Serial No. 166,495 and filed June Ship clamps areprovided. in ocean going cargo vessels to prevent the cargo which is being transported from shifting in the hold; This is particularly a problem when 7 grain or .other ,fungible goods are carried in a. hold because grain. is quite a fluid cargo, and if said cargolshifts, it changes the ship's center of gravity substantiallyas a ship pitches or rolls from side to side. With nontungiblegoods, such as heavy. machinery. itis necessarily secured tightly in place. Thus, heavy cables. or metal straps are. secured to said pieces of cargo, which cables or strapsmay besecured-to the ship hull ribs or to other fastenin devices.

The ribs of a ship are elongated, vertical members and may take theform of Z-bars, channels, or bulb channels or angles. --'I'he skin. of a ship is welded orriveted iosaid ribs. 'Inany event, as viewed from the insideof a hold, a typical rib is formed with a flange projecting inwardly from the skin of the ship,' --andsaid web is arranged more or less normal to the plane of said skin, In

case of a bulb channel-or angle, said inwardly projecting rib terminates in an enlarged, .bulbous margin. This type of ribis more commonly provided for ships" not madein the United States, and my .invention. is shown in connection with such a bulbous type of rib. It is to be understood, however, that it'has-equal application to Z-bars,

channels, and angles; in which the-flange terminates in a laterally projecting, rnargiirof substantiallythe same thickness astheintermediate projectingweb which extends normal. to the plane of the skin 'of'the' shin, Theclamps are formed to engage a fairly widerange. of shapes and sizes, and the structures illustrated herein are to be deemed typical ofsuch jaws and not to-be limited to the exact shape thereon, f

My present -inv'ention is' more p rticularly directed to that, phasefthereof which permits a clamp to be quickly attached to a rib and, with equal facility, to be disengaged therefrom by means of a lateral, shiftable'keeper pin; The use of such a keeper pin permits the clamp to be quickly disengaged from a ships rib by striking the keeper pin with a hammeror maul, which causes the jaws of the clamp to be-relaxedgjand permits it to be removed from the vertical rib.

A further and more specific object of my invention is to provide a releasable ship clamp which is capable of being secured either to the ribson the port side or on the starboard side merely-by shifting it about or turning said ship clamp over to accommodate the conformation of the ribs at said sides, respectively. v v

These and other objects and advantages of my invention are hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings,iin which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a quick releasable ship clamp embodying my invention, shown in engagement'with a bulbous-type ship rib, which ship rib is shown in fragmentary form and in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview alongthe. plane of the keeper pin, said sectionbeingv taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1; Fig, 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except thatlthe quick releasable ship clamp is shown in opened or detachable position, and the jaws are shown spread apart, as is required either to attach said.

clamp to the marginal flange of said rib initially, or to detach it therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4, showing the keeper pin laterally displaced to permit the jaws of the ship clamp to open; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through aslightly different type of a ship rib, known as a bulb beam, said bulb beam being symmetrical about a transverse axis, while a bulb angle, shown in connection with the remaining views, has it bulbous marginal portion extending outstanding web thereof. l

A ship clamp embodyin my invention. is adapted to grip the outstandingweb l of aship hull rib 2. Said ribs may be of any conventionalform, such as Z-bars-or other ship channels, or may be of the bulbous type. In Figs. ,lYto 4 inelusive, said ship clamp is shownin connection with a bulb angle 3. This is of angular form and the outstanding web I terminates in anoifset l'a extends laterally from the web and is not laterally from' the:

symmetrical therewith. In a bulb beam type, the marginal edge 4a extends laterally in both directions and is symmetrical with the outstanding web 4b thereof.

A ship'yclamp embodying my invention-comprises a body member 5, terminating in a hook portion 6. Said hook portion constitutes one of a pair of gripping jaws, which encircle the marginal edge la of a ship rib and grip-between them- The'opposite' the web I, as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

H is a headed rivet [1, which extends through the portion. l3c,at right angles to the flattened end of said body member terminates in a loop member 9 to shift laterally and toopen and. close.

for disengagement andv engagementwith the web I. Saidjlaw member, terminates at one. end in a downturned hook-portion l and atthe other end in-albifurcated portion. l I. Thehook. portions 6 and. Ill, respectively, on thebody and jaw members are adapted to opposeeach other and together toformjaw members for the ship. clamp. The bifurcated portion II is positioned and arranged to extend substantially transversely of the-longitudinaldimensions of. the body,v and a pair of r egistering.'eye's.,l.2, of similar outline to the eye 8 in the body, can move into alignment therewith whe'nthejaws. are closed, as shown in Fig. 1. The bifnrcatedjportionof the hook memberfoverlies the portionflaofthe body surrounding the. eye. 8, and the bifurcated. portion ll straddles said overlyingportionfla so that the jaw and .body members. are. held. against tipping or canting.

Extending, transversely through. the eyes 8) and 12 in the. body and jaw portions ,,respectively, is a keeper pin l3. Saidkeeper pin is'substantially twice as long. as the overall thickness of the overlying. portions 8a and H, of the body and jaw membersrespectively; This is illustrated in Fig. 2. One end' of thekeeper pin is formed into a head. 14,.which bears against the under face of the bifurcated portion ll of the jaw me aviewed in Fig. 2. Said head is of sufficient diameter to' prevent said keeper pin. from sliding upwardly, as viewed-in said Fig. 2,.when the head is in face-to-face abutment with said bifurcated portion. Substantially at a point midway of the shank/i311 of said keeper. pin is a; transverse hole. [5. A. cotter key or. piece of bent wire IB'may be passed throughsaid hole and deformed to prevent inadvertent retraction, and said deformation keeps the keeper 'pin from moving downwardly,

as viewed in Fig. 2. That portion [3b. of the shank l3ct lying below the hole [5, as viewed in said Fig; 2, and extending tothe head. [4 is of elongated section, as isv viewed inFig. 1; that. is,

the-portion l3b of said shank, extending from.

the, hole-l to thehead I4, 'is of a size. that it has a cross-sectional area and form. corresponding generally tothe outline of the registering eyes 8 and [2, respectively. Thus, whensaid portion.

Wat the other-sideofthehole i5 is of circular;

This loop portion. is illustrated as.

of the. keeper pin, as viewed in Fig. 2.

sides of the elongated eyes 8 and [2, respectively.

.Said". rivet serves to prevent the keeper pin from .being physicallyseparated from the body and jaw members; and limits the downward movement This stop is formed as a headed rivet I! so that it can be inserted through the keeper pin .after. it is .v in place that is, aftentheship clamp is assembled. If theparts becomebroken or needreplacement or repair for anyreasomthe jawlmeinber. and the body member. may be, separated .and. replaced; merely by knocking out said rivet, separating the body and jaw members, and. thereafter. by. replacinga-rivetxor. pin, .the latter. will prevent sepa ration.

My. improyedlsliip clamp. is, used follows:

The. parts are. arranged as. is. shown in l Tig.- 4. when they are. to be secured to the marginal edge of the web oflashiip hull; rib; To permit the jaw to swing-[outwardly the keeperpin is moved downwardly by. removing. the cotterkey or piece .of'bentlwire 16. The pinmay then drop down until the. rivet I,'I bears against the .upper face of'the bifurcated portion H of the'jaw memher 9. The jaws then. maybe forcedop'en'and pivote'd'about the portion I3c'of the keeper pin.

[3, as is indicated in Fig. 4. The points of'the jaws then are separatedsufilciently" to passiftlie marginal edges. of the bulbous rirnor marginal edgela'oftheweb l'. x Q

The jawsmay then: be pushed. together to a s-f.

- some the position shown in'Fig. 1', andthe keeper pin is pushed upwardly as; shown in Fig.2,"so'thatl the portion' I3b'of'the shank of the keeper pin l3' will enter the registeringeyes 8 and l 2.1f Be-" cause of the'non'circular formzofsaid portion [3b of the-keeper pin shank, and the fact that this portion substantiallycompletely fills the eyes; this will prevent the jaws from relaxing their grip upon the web I and" about'the-marginal' edge la. A cotter key or piece of bent; wire is then placed through in position: in thehole I 5, and this holds the ship clamp in. place; I have found thatlit is not essential with this clamp,' to gripthe Web tightly =because-therei's an oficenter-disposition of" mass which tends to-cant the ship clamp slightly, and as soon as it depends' slightly from horizontal plane, to" wedge'it in position. Then one end of a band l8 may be slippedfthrough the loop'por tion 1 and tightened. This m'ay be done with a device such as is illustrated in the c p namga -f plication for'United States patent entitled Ten-'- sioning and Joini ng' Device forStrapfEnds; dis-' closed in the copending application jfor patentfiled by-myself and'Tirey L. Hume underdate oi June G, Qj'S erialjNo. 1661494.. The strap or band is is madequite tightand this preventslthe ship clamp from movingupon theiveb 'l of therib. If the band 017'; strap is; used to extend laterally across ahold, the latter may'theni be filled with. cargo, and after thexcargolis readyjto be charged or thereafteni theitensionl upon the band' or strap l8 maybe relaxed andtheship clamp may be removed from engagement withthe web merely'by cutting: or removing. the wire or cotter key to and forcingthe. pin. downwardly. as. viewed;

in Fig. 2', either manuallyor byjthe se" atheism mer or maul. When the portionjtc oi the keeper pin lies in the registeringeyesfl and I2, respectively, the jaws maybe opened to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the clamps' removed from the web.

As is, shown intFigs. 1 and 4, theihook 55mm I'll is allochiral with the hook portion. 61 on the body, and thus i the cla'mp is rat used on the opposite side of avessel, this'maybedone either clamp. If the ship clamp is to be used in connection with a bulb beam suchas ijs shownin Fig. 6, it makes no difference which positionthe clamp occupies, because the jaws are 'Sy'mmetrical about a longitudinal axis, asisf'the bulb eam Although I have shown the jaw member as having a'bifurcated end. to straddle. and overlie the intermediate portion of the bodymember 5', it is to be understood that the body could be made bifurcated to receive a flat end for the jaw member. I believe it is'desirable, however, to bifurcate the jaw member and provide the body member with plane sidesas shown in Fig. 2, because this provides a better disposition of material and economy inmanufaoture. This arrangement also produces a straight line pull throughout the thickness of the body member, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, inasmuchas the body is of substantially uniform thickness through-.

out its entire length. v

Iclaim: v, I

1. A two-piece ship clamp for gripping the outstanding web of a ship hull rib, comprising a body member having a hook portion at one end and a strap engaging loop at the other end, a.

pin shank being longer than the overall thick ness of said overlying portions of the bodyand jaw members, one portion of the length of the keeper pin shank being of elongated noncircular section corresponding to the outline of the registering eyes in the body and jaw members, respectively, and the other portion of said shank being of circular outline lying wholly within the outline of the elongated noncircular section of said shank, whereby when the keep'erpin is'ar ranged with its noncircular portion lying within and in engagement with the registering eyes in the body and jaw portions, said portions are held fixed to grip the marginal edges of the web of a ship hull rib and when the reduced circular portion is in engagement with said eyes said body and jaw members arefree-to swing open and to relax engagement-with the marginal edge of the web of a ship hull rib.

2. A. two-piece ship clamp for gripping the outstanding web of a ship hull rib, comprising a body member having a hook portion atone end and a strap engaging loop atthe otherend',

a jaw member associatedther'ewith having'a complementary, their" pbr'nonflsef ingf with the hook portion of. the body'member ,to encircle and grip the marginal edge'oi'the web of a ship hull rib, overlying portions ofsaid jawand body members, respectively, having transverse elongated registering eyes formed therein, sa id registering eyes each being of elongated noncircular outline, said keeper pin' shankb'eing substantially twice as long as the overall thickness of said overlying portions of the' body and jaw: members, one half of the keeper pin shank be-' ing of elongated noncircular section corr'esponding to the outline vof jthe registering eyes'in the body-and jaw members, ,respectively,.', and the other half. of said shank being of circular outment with theregisteringeye's in the body and jaw portions, said portions are held fixed to grip the marginal edge of the web of a shiphull rib and when the reducedcircular portionpis intengagement with said eyes said bo'dy andwjaw members are free to swing open and to relax engagement with the marginal edge. offthe web of a ship hull rib.

3.. A two-piece ship clamihforgripping'the outstanding web of a ship hullrib, comprisinga' body member having alhookportionat 'one' end and a strap engaging loopatjthe bther end, a jaw member associated therewith, having, a compleq mentary hook portion. serving with the hook portion of the body member to encircle and grip the marginal edge of the web'of a ship hull rib, overlying portions of saidg'jawlan'd body. members.

respectively, the overlying portion of one of said.

members being bifurcated and straddling the overlying portionof the othermemben-said overlying .portions, respectively, having transverse elongated registering-j eyes formed therein, .said, registering eyes each beingiof elongated nonv circular outline, and akeeper pin having a shank extending through said registering eyes, and be-. inglongitudinally slidable therein, said. keeper pin shank being longer thanthe overall thicknessof, said oyerlying portions ofthe body and jaw members, one portionof the length of the keeper pin shank being of elongatednoncircular section correspondingto-the outline of the registering eyes in the body and jaw members, respectively, and the other portion of said shank being of circular outline lying wholly within the outline of the elongated noncircular section of said shank, whereby when the keeper pin isarranged with its noncircular portion lying with and in engagement with the registering eyes in the body and jaw portions, said portions are held fixed to grip the marginal edge of the web of a ship.

hull rib and when the reduced circular portion is in engagement with said eyes'said body and jaw members-are freeto swinglopen and to relax engagement with themarginaledge of the web. of

4'. A two-piece ship clamp'gf or gripping the out:

standing'web of. a ship 1 hull rib, comprising a -body member 'havinga hook portion at one end and a strap engagingloop; at the other end, a

jaw member associated therewith having a complementary hook portion serving withthe hook portion of the body member to encircle and grip the marginal edge of the web of a ship hull rib,

overlying portionsv of said jaw and body mem,

bers, respectivelmhaving transverse elongated registering eyes formed therein. the overlying portion; of thebody member lying intermediate.

the jaw, portion thereof arid-..the loop formed therein, said registering eyeseach being of elongated noncircular outline, anda keeper pin hav-. ing a shank extending through said registering eyes, and being longitudinally slidable therein, said keeper pin shank being, longer than the over-. all thickness oiisa'id overlying portions of the body and-jaw members, one portion of the length of thekeeper pin shank being of elongated non.- circular section corresponding to theoutline of theregistering eyes inthe-body and jaw mem bers, respectively, and the other portion of .said shank being. of circular outline lying. wholly within the outline of the velongatednoncirculz'air sec tion of said shank, whereby when the keeperpin is'arranged with its noncircular portion lying, within and in engagement withqthe regi'stering eyes i'nthe body and jaw portions,,said portions are. held hired to; grip. the marginal. edgeof the. web of a ship hullrib and when .the reduced cir-j cular portion is in engagement with said eyes said body'and jaw members are free toswing open andto relax. engagement with the-marginal. edge.

of, the webof a ship hull. rib.

5. .A two-pieceship clamp ror gripping the out standing web of a shiphull rib, comprising a body member having a hook portion at one end and a strapengaging loop. at the other end, ajaw member associatedtherewith having a complementary hookportion servingjwith the hook pe tion of, the body member to enoircleand grip the marginal edge of the webof a ship' hull rib, overlying portions ,of said jaw and body mem bers, respectively, having "transverse elongated registering eyes formed therein, said registering eyes each being of 'elongatednoncircular out-- line, and akeeper pin havingv ashankextending throughsaid registering eyes, and being longituinally, slidable. th e fl ,v said keeper. pi shank, being longer than the overallthicknessv of. said overlying portions or the'body and j aw members,

one portion of the length of the keeperpin shank being of elongated; noncircular section .corresponding to the outline of the registering eyes in thebody and jaw members, respectively, and the other portionof said shank being of circular. outline lying wholly within, the outline of'theelongated noncircularsection ofv said shank, whereby. when the keeper pin is arranged with its non circular portion lying, within and in engagement standing web of'a shiphull rib, comprisinga body member having a hook portion at one end and a strap engaging loop at the other end, a jaw member associated therewith having a complementary hook portion serving; with, the hook. portion of the body member, to encircle and grip the marginal edge orthe web of a ship hull. rib, overlying portions ofs'aid jaw. and body members, respectively, having transverse elongated registering,

eyes formed" therein, saidregiste'ring eyes. each being of elongated noncireular' outline, .and a.

keeper pin having ashank, extending through said registering eyes, an being iqngitu inany slidable, therein, said keeper pin. shank being longer than the overall. thickness of i said over lying portions of; the body and jaw members,

one-portionof theeleng'th or the keeper pin shank being of elongated noncircular section. corresponding to the outline of the registering eyes in the bodyand jaw members respectively, and

the otherv portion ofsaid shank being of circularz outline lying wholly with-in the outline of the elongatednoncircular section of said shank,,

whereby when thekeeper pinis arranged with its noncircular portion lying within and in engagement with the registering. eyes in the body and jaw portions, said portions .are. heldfixed togrip. the marginal edge of the web of a-ship hull rib. and; when the. reduced circular portion isin engagement-with said eyes said body and jaw membersare freetorswing open and to relaxenga'gement with the. marginal, edge of the web of'a ship hull rib, and a releasable diametric, pin extending through theshank of; said keeper pin for holding the noncircular portion of the shank of said keeper pininengagement: with.

said registering eyes.. I

"'7; A two-piece ship clamp for gripping' the outstanding'web of a. ship hullrib, comprising a body member havinga hook portion at one end and astrap engaging loop at the other end, a-

j aw member associated therewith having a complementary hook portion serving with-the hook portion, of the body member to encircleand grip the marginaled'ge of theweb of a ship hull rib,

overlying portions of said jaw. .and body. mem-.

bers',.. respectively, said portions, respectively,

having transverse elongated. registering eyes formed therein, said registering eyes each being of elongatednoncircular outline, and a keeper pin having a shank extending through saidregistering. eyes, and being, longitudinally slidable therein,

said keeper pinhaving enlarged headsat the ends thereof. to limit the physicalremoval of-- said keeper-pin from engagement with said members and the eyes. therein, said keeper pin shank being longer than the overall thickness of said 'overlying-portions of the body and jaw members, one portion vof the length of the keeper pin shank being of. elongated noncircular section corresponding to the outline of-the registering eyes in the body andjaw members, respectively, and

the other portion'of said shank being of circular outline lying wholly within the'outlinc of the elongated noncircular section of. said shank,

whereby when the keeper pin isarranged with its noncircular portion lyingwithinand-in engage-- mentwith theregistering eyes in the body and:

j awpor'tions, said portions are held fixed to grip the'marg'inal edge orthe web of a ship hull-rib and whenthe reduced circular portion is in engagement withsaid eyessaid body and jaw members are free, to swing. open and to relax engagement with the marginal edge of the web of a ship hull rib. V V

WiLLI'AMI-AQ MEIGHAN.

, nnFER nons CITED I The-following references are of. record in the file- 0f this patent:

STATES BATENTS Number V 7 Name a Date 308,483 Forshey Nov.'. 25, .1884 I 973,709,, 7 scott Oct.,25, 1910 1307, 219, ,Rush ...7., 'Dec'. 5, 1916 2,442,243 Schultz May .25, 1948 

